No changes are coming to Delta’s adult crossing guard program for the upcoming school year.
The city is providing the school district an $111,125 grant to support the 2021/22 Adult School Crossing Guard Program for the 27 adult crossing guards throughout Delta.
The total approved program cost in 2020/21 for 25 approved crosswalk locations was $103,456, but two additional crosswalk locations were added later in the year.
In the spring of 1999, local parents rallied against the school board’s decision to cut the district’s adult crossing guard program due to a $1.7-million budget shortfall at the time.
The crossing guard portion of the budget at that time was $107,000.
A Delta council meeting that spring saw a large number of irate parents show up demanding the municipality pick up the tab to ensure the safety of their children.
A deal was then struck between Delta and the school board, which saw the municipality pick up the cost in exchange for Delta receiving enhanced use of school playing fields.
The municipality would also provide a higher level of maintenance to some of the school fields to allow for increased usage and bring them up to municipal standards.
The city assumed funding beginning in the fall of 1999.
The annual cost since then has been around $100,000.
Delta’s engineering department and a transportation technical committee reviews the program annually and makes adjustments depending on traffic, crosswalk projects and other factors.
The program is also reviewed and endorsed by the Delta School Board.
If any changes are proposed and approved during the school year, Delta would fund any additions from the city’s remaining budget.
